Oromo People's Congress
Encyclopedia
The Oromo People's Congress (OPC) is one of the major opposition political parties in Ethiopia
. It was founded in April 1996 under the name of Oromo National Congress by Dr. Merera Gudina
, who is currently its chairman. However, the party licence and name were allegedly given to a marginal splinter group by the National Election Board of Ethiopia
in order to undermine the party and create confusion among the voters after the May 2005 election, so the party was forced to change its name to Oromo People's Congress prior to the 2008 by-elections
.
the OPC had not attempted to build a permanent base of support outside its leader’s home region in Ambo
woreda
. In that election, as the Oromo National Congress the party was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces
, that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's Representatives; the party won 42 seats in the Federal Parliament
and 135 seats in the Oromia regional parliament in its own name.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. It was founded in April 1996 under the name of Oromo National Congress by Dr. Merera Gudina
Merera Gudina
Dr. Merera Gudina is a professor and politician in Ethiopia. He is the leader of the Oromo People's Congress , a political party based on the Oromo people which is opposed to the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front....
, who is currently its chairman. However, the party licence and name were allegedly given to a marginal splinter group by the National Election Board of Ethiopia
National Election Board of Ethiopia
The National Election Board of Ethiopia is an autonomous government agency which supervises the national elections of Ethiopia. The NEBE was established by Proclamation number 64/1992, and answers to the House of Peoples' Representatives....
in order to undermine the party and create confusion among the voters after the May 2005 election, so the party was forced to change its name to Oromo People's Congress prior to the 2008 by-elections
Ethiopian by-elections, 2008
Ethiopia held nation-wide elections for local offices in the kebele and woreda assemblies on 13 and 20 April 2008. By-elections were also held for seats in the Addis Ababa City Council, and in the national and regional parliaments that were vacant due to the Coalition for Unity and Democracy’s ...
.
2005 Election Results
Until the 2005 Ethiopian general electionsEthiopian general elections, 2005
Ethiopia held general elections on May 15, 2005, for seats in both its national and in four regional government councils. Under pressure from the international community, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi promised that this election would be proof that more democracy would come in this multi-ethnic...
the OPC had not attempted to build a permanent base of support outside its leader’s home region in Ambo
Ambo (woreda)
Ambo is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Shewa Zone, it is bordered on the southwest by Tikur, on the west by Cheliya, on the north by Ginde Beret, on the northeast by Jeldu, on the east by Dendi, and on the southeast by the Debub Mirab Shewa Zone...
woreda
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
. In that election, as the Oromo National Congress the party was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces
United Ethiopian Democratic Forces
The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces is a coalition of several existing political parties of Ethiopia which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General Elections held on May 15, 2005....
, that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's Representatives; the party won 42 seats in the Federal Parliament
Federal Parliamentary Assembly
The Parliament of Ethiopia consists of two chambers:*The House of Federation *The House of People's Representatives...
and 135 seats in the Oromia regional parliament in its own name.
Recent developments
- The leadership of OPC was one of the founding members of the Forum for Democratic Dialogue (FDD). The creation of the Forum was agreed upon on June 17, 2007.
- OPC has formed a coalition with the Oromo Federalist Democratic MovementOromo Federalist Democratic MovementThe Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement is a political party in Ethiopia, created to further the interests of the Oromo people.At the last legislative elections, on 15 May 2005, the party won 11 seats, all from the Oromia Region. The party Whip is Mesfin Nemera Deriesa from the Mirab Welega Zone...
in January 2009, according to a press release issued by both parties. - The OPC issued a press release 5 March 2009, claiming that the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic FrontEthiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic FrontThe Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's...
party committed three separate acts of harassment against its members during the prior weeks, which included a February incident where two teachers in Midakaegn woreda were severely beaten by the local police and woreda officials, and security personnel on 4 March surrounding the high school in Gedo then shooting at the students and wounding at least three (one died later in the hospital).